For days, Cassandra spent most of her time as Paris' shadow. No matter how hard he tried, Paris couldn't shake her. Every time he seemed on the verge of complaining or demanding she leave, Cassandra teared up and gushed about how much she liked his company. Without fail, her ruse worked. Paris would sigh, smile, then lead her to another activity.

She learned much about her older brother. None of the information could aid her endeavor to save Troy, but Cassandra enjoyed the facts. She'd already known he was a caring, thoughtful young man, and the stories he told only inflated those truths.

From what she learned, Paris had lived as a generous person, values engraved in him by his guardian.

That fact hurt Cassandra's heart the most. The one selfish act Paris had done had damned all he loved.

Not for the first time since gaining Apollo's gift, she loathed the gods' meddling with mortals.

During Cassandra's efforts to persuade her brother away from Aphrodite's offer, Apollo called for her twice.

She ignored both summonses.

Once, she'd thought of getting Apollo involved. Maybe he could talk to Aphrodite. If he couldn't, perhaps he'd think of a solution to save Troy.

But Cassandra's visions had revealed no other gods beside the three great goddesses knew of Paris' decision. If she told Apollo, and he confronted any other god, they'd punish him for breaking Zeus' rule.

What if Zeus hurt him beyond repair?

What if Apollo got fed up with suffering because of her and lashed out, sought vengeance by harming her loved ones?

Though derailing a prophecy seemed impossible, Cassandra knew it'd be better for her to proceed alone.

"How did the King and Queen meet?" Paris asked as a servant offered him a tray of olives. He selected two, bit into one, then leaned back on his couch. Another servant resumed fanning him.

The servant with the olives approached Cassandra, but she waved the woman away.

She smiled at her brother. "The Queen hasn't told you?"

Paris shook his head. "I'm nervous to ask."

"That's wise of you. Always be wary of her stories."

Her brother frowned, and Cassandra laughed. She caught the smiles the servants attempted to hide and laughed harder.

After a moment, Paris joined her.

When they'd quieted, Cassandra told the epic that was their parents' romance. She spoke with a feverish passion that rivaled the Queen's. Though she thought her mother had embellished most of the details, she loved the thrilling story.

Paris hung on her every word and smiled and chuckled on cue.

He clapped when she finished. "How lucky they are. Aphrodite crafted their love."

Cassandra nodded, though her stomach knotted at the goddess' name.

She opened her mouth, ready to launch into another lecture about interfering with powerful forces, but a movement to her right caught her eye. She turned, and the sight of a slithering, gold-and-green snake as thick as her forearm greeted her.

Her eyes widened. Apollo had never been so bold in his invitation.

She glanced at Paris and the servants. No one else had noticed the snake.

The knot in her stomach tightened. She wasn't ready to see the god yet. Cassandra had been so busy with Paris, she hadn't thought through her romantic troubles.

She'd vowed she'd leave Apollo and Dimus alone until she'd decided.

But she missed them both.

She desired Apollo's refreshing humor and charm. Cassandra hadn't realized how much the comfortable afternoons with the god mattered to her until they'd stopped.

And Dimus...?

She craved his touch, his lips. Their bout of passion at his pond haunted her; woke her in the dead of night. The intensity with which she wanted the man terrified her.

If she didn't have Paris and her visions to distract her, Cassandra would have gone mad.

What drew her to the herdsman? Why did she want him so, more than food or air? Was it love?

The snake wound itself around Cassandra's feet and hissed.

She knew it wouldn't leave her alone until she complied. Might even bite her.

Cassandra pressed her hands to her face. "Oh..."

Paris sat up and leaned toward her. "What's wrong?"

"I'm feeling a little dizzy. I think I've been in the sun too long."

Her brother stood and extended his hand. "Let me escort you to your chamber."

"No. No, you stay here. I can get there myself."

"But I don't—"

"See." Cassandra rose, as graceful as a swan taking flight. "I promise I'm well enough to reach my bedchamber."

"Not without a servant." Paris pointed to the servant with the olives. "Assist the Princess."

Despite Cassandra's protests, the servant nodded and handed off her tray. While Paris hadn't been a prince for long, his word outranked hers.

If Cassandra made more of a hassle, the servant would worry she'd suffer for following orders. Some of Cassandra's siblings might enjoy messing with the staff, but Cassandra found no joy in the practice.

Cassandra smiled at the servant, then Paris. "Thank you for your concern."

Paris beamed back. "Of course. I hope you feel well."

"I'm sure I will. Good day, Paris."

"Good day."

Cassandra allowed the servant to guide her to the palace.

The snake followed, nipped at her heels, then veered to the right. It circled back and repeated the process over and over.

Cassandra's patience waned, yet she couldn't respond without looking insane. And she hadn't traveled far enough from Paris to avoid his intervention.

She inhaled and exhaled slowly and drew the servant's attention.

"Are you feeling worse, my Lady? Do you need to rest?"

"No, I'm fine."

Cassandra glanced around. She didn't spot her brother. Apprehension flooded her veins.

Where had he gone? Did he seek Aphrodite?

The snake slid over her foot and pulled her from her thoughts.

She sighed.

Even if Paris planned to meet with the goddess, she couldn't do much about it now. She had her own god to deal with.

Cassandra paused and pulled the servant to a stop. "In fact, I've improved so much I've changed my mind about retiring to my bedchamber."

The servant frowned. "But Prince Paris—"

"I won't tell if you don't."

The woman bit her lip. "I don't know..."

Cassandra patted the servant's hand. "All will be well, I swear."

"If you say so..."

Cassandra beamed her brightest smile until the servant moved into the palace. She waited a long moment, then dipped her head at the snake which had circled her while she spoke with the servant. "All right. Take me to him."

The creature darted to the right again. It moved at a fast clip Cassandra followed with ease.

The snake led her toward the staff's living quarters, one of the few places the King had forbidden her from visiting. Like the forest, her father claimed it unfit for a princess of Troy.

Cassandra's brothers—More than once she'd heard the whispered tales of Deiphobus' and Polites' many exploits with the servant girls and of their gambling the staff was all too happy to indulge in.

But unlike with the forest, Cassandra feared the King's outrage if he caught her amongst the servants and slaves, though she thought more of their wellbeing than her own.

The King wouldn't do much to punish her. Lock her in her bedchamber, send her away for some time. Maybe marry her off to the next suitor, no matter what he offered.

Her father wouldn't hesitate to kill any servant or slave he thought should have kept his daughter from the debauchery of the staff's living quarters.

Cassandra's trepidation grew when the snake headed for the gate the servants used when they traveled between the palace and the city. It experienced near constant activity during the day, and the soldiers standing guard never relaxed like the ones on night duty.

If they caught her, she couldn't bribe their silence. Priam's men were loyal to a fault.

The snake entered the shade a giant archway near the guardsmen's post cast. No matter how hard the men tried, they couldn't spot Cassandra if she remained in the archway's shadow. If they managed to, they couldn't identify her.

A hand extended from the darkness.

Cassandra's heart raced, but she laced her fingers with the sun god's.

Apollo pulled her into an embrace, and for the briefest instant, she forgot everything in the heady heat of him. In his arms, she felt her strongest yet as fragile as a spider's silk.

The contradictory ideas shouldn't have combined into anything resembling sense, and she shouldn't have liked them. But they did, and she did.

The next instant, memories of Dimus with his hands on her swamped her mind. Guilt soured the previous good she'd experienced.

She wiggled out of Apollo's hold with a smile she hoped hid her discomfort.

Cassandra gestured to the surroundings. "This is quite the meeting place."

Apollo watched her for a heartbeat too long, and Cassandra's smile faltered. Then the god smirked. "Well, it seems you've grown tired of our previous rendezvous spot."

"I'm sorry. It's not that I haven't wanted to see you. Paris has kept me busy. He's been on a bonding endeavor with all my siblings. The past few days have been my turn."

Apollo's earnest gaze drank in Cassandra. "Lucky for him he has siblings worthy of such an effort."

Cassandra looked away. "Uh, did you want to hunt or... work on my visions today?"

She hoped he didn't. Not only did she have to find Paris again, but she also didn't want to endanger Apollo with what she might reveal through her visions.

Apollo sighed. "I don't have time today for much more than a quick conversation."

"Do you need to tell me something? Or have you missed me?"

Thoughts of Dimus rebelled against her last question, but she silenced their protest.

What harm could come from a friend telling her he'd missed her company?

Yes, he may be a friend she wanted to kiss and stroke, but he was foremost one of her dearest companions.

The god took her hand once more, and, with his thumb, rubbed small circles on her palm. "Both." With his other hand, he brushed back the strands of hair in her face. "Have you missed me?"

Her feelings for Dimus rose to choke back her next words, but Cassandra held them at bay as she said, "More than I ever have."

Apollo's eyes lit up; glowed with such happiness they shined in the shade. "You don't know how glad I am to hear that."

A part of Cassandra despised herself for encouraging the god.

She wanted to believe he didn't have romantic intentions, that he wouldn't bother with a mortal when any goddess would swoon before him, but she knew that wasn't true.

For whatever reason, Apollo had wooed her. And if not for Dimus, the sun god would have already won her heart. While all evidence proved Cassandra and Apollo couldn't have a long-lasting union, she wouldn't have cared.

But, though Apollo was everything she could ever want, her rational side didn't see the point in the inevitable heartbreak caring for a god would bring. Mortals weren't meant to love the divine.

The Fates wouldn't allow it.

Yet, her loving Dimus had as little chance of success as a fruitful relationship with Apollo.

Why had her heart chosen two unobtainable contenders?

Why couldn't she turn off her emotions? They were hers, should she not have unwavering control of them?

Tears welled in Cassandra's eyes, and shame filled her. She couldn't cry until someone else solved her problems. She'd waited years for the maturity that came with age, and she needed to prove she was strong enough to use it.

Cassandra straightened her spine and forced back her tears. "What do you need to tell me?"

Apollo's joy extinguished. He sighed and dropped his hand from Cassandra's hair.

He didn't release her fingers, though.

"Have you been bothered by any other god?"

"No." Cassandra frowned. "Might I be?"

The god bit his lip. His gaze stared beyond Cassandra. "I may have roused curiosity in you, by accident. Once, when I didn't respond to Zeus' summons as quickly as he saw fit, he took out his anger on some of my siblings. When I returned, they cornered me, and I think I let slip a clue about you. Since then, I do my best to mask my trail, but... I don't know if that's been enough."

"Would they hurt me?

"I don't know."

Fear prickled Cassandra.

Many of Apollo's siblings weren't known for their fondness for mortals, especially ones that inconvenienced them.

"What are we going to do?"

Apollo cupped her cheek, and she leaned into his touch. "I won't stop seeing you, but the risk to you is immense. From now on, if you leave the safety of the palace, take the arrows and bow I gave you. They won't bother you here. I don't know if you're aware of this, but Zeus favors your father."

"Better not let him ever discover that. His head would swell to dangerous proportions."

A brief grin crossed Apollo's lips, then somberness hardened his expression. "Do you promise to keep yourself safe?"

Cassandra nodded. "I'll do my best. But... are you sure you want to continue spending time with me? The price seems too perilous, to you and me."

"I've lived much of my existence doing what pleases my family or being bothered by their petty squabbles." Apollo shook his head. "I won't let them take you from me. You're the first marvelous thing to come into my life in a very long time. However..."

His eyes pierced her, seemed to see into the very depths of her, and Cassandra swore he'd discover her feelings for Dimus.

She dreaded dropping her gaze, though. To do so would reveal her current dilemma. If Apollo discovered her heart may be owned by another, he'd abandon her.

She couldn't imagine a future without her friend. A part of Cassandra would shatter if she never spoke to him again.

"If you're afraid," he continued, his stare still on her, "I'll walk away. I don't want to cause you harm."

Here was her out, Cassandra's chance to avoid hurting him. But she didn't take it. If she forwent a romance with the god, she'd turn him down without causing him too much heartache.

"I'll be all right."

Gladness replaced the god's searching look. He pulled her closer, and Cassandra knew he intended to kiss her.

While her feelings for Dimus screamed for her to stop, she ignored them. For weeks, she'd wanted Apollo to kiss her, and though thoughts of Dimus had diminished the craving, they'd never destroyed it.

Maybe the god's kiss would settle her internal debate.

Moments before their lips touched, shouts from the guardsmen to a servant caused both Cassandra and Apollo to jump.

They broke apart, grinned at each other, and laughed.

Once they'd finished, Apollo rubbed his face.

"I guess I should go."

Disappointment pulled at Cassandra's pleasant mood, but she battled it away and smiled. "Sure."

"Will you answer my summons when it comes?"

"Paris should be through with me by then."

Apollo kissed her cheek, very close to her lips.

A pleasurable sigh escaped Cassandra.

The god beamed and repeated the gesture until Cassandra blushed so hard she swore he felt the heat.

He pulled away from her. "Goodbye, Cassandra."

"Goodbye, my Lord."

Apollo disappeared.

Cassandra leaned against the archway, her heart as confused and frustrated as ever.

She groaned.

How would she decide?